Astronauts on the International Space Station have used a 3D printer to create a new wrench, after Nasa emailed them instructions.

It is believed to be the first time Nasa has “emailed” an object to space. Previously, the space programme would take months flying a needed object up with the next mission.

The problem arose when International Space Station (ISS) commander Barry Wilmore mentioned on the radio he needed a ratcheting socket wrench.

He was overheard by a Californian company, Made In Space, who designed the 3D printer on board the space station. The printer was sent up two months ago – and first created a replacement part for itself.

#RealGravity: Nasa's jaw-dropping space walk imagery

#RealGravity: Nasa's jaw-dropping space walk imagery

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Sun Over Earth

The sun is seen over the Earth from the Russian section of the International Space Station on 22 November 2009.

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Paul Richards during an EVA

Paul Richards is seen during an Extravehicular Activity (EVA) on the International Space Station (ISS).

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Reconfiguring the Station

Sunita L. Williams is shown using a pistol grip tool to work on the ISS during a 7-hour, 55-minute spacewalk on 31 January, 2007.

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Moving in Space

Mike Fossum holds the Robotics Refueling Mission payload while his feet are secured on a restraint on the space station remote manipulator system's robotic arm.

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Repairing the Station in Orbit

Flight engineer Chris Cassidy is seen repairing a pump controller box on the ISS on 11 May, 2013.

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Storm Clouds over the Atlantic

This image shows storm clouds massing nearing Brazil and the Equator on 4 July, 2013. A Russian spacecraft is seen covering the small patch of sunlight reflected on the ocean waters through a break in the clouds.

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Checking the toolkit

Steve L. Smith is shown retrieving a power tool from the handrail of the remote manipulator system (RMS). Many of the tools required to service the Hubble space telescope are kept here.

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Free Flying

Mission Specialist Bruce McCandless II, is seen further away from the confines and safety of his ship than any previous astronaut has ever been. McCandless went free flying to a distance of 320 feet away from the Orbiter using the Manned Manuevering Unit or MMU, a nitrogen jet propelled backpack.

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Southern Lights

This panoramic view, looking past the docke space shuttle Atlantis, shows the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights. These displays are caused by charged particles from the magnetosphere and the Sun colliding with atoms in the thermosphere.

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The Ultimate Photo Shoot

Inside the Cupola of the ISS, Nasa astronaut Chris Cassidy uses a 400mm lens on a digital camera to photograph the Earth 250 miles below him.

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Earth's Horizon

The horizon of Earth is seen against the blackness of space in this image from 2003.

Founder of Made In Space Mike Chen told the BBC: "We had overheard ISS Commander Barry Wilmore (who goes by "Butch") mention over the radio that he needed one, so we designed one in CAD and sent it up to him faster than a rocket ever could have."

Although this is not the first object made in space (there have been 21) it is another important step forward allowing astronauts to be increasingly self-sufficient.

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The 20-odd objects created so far will be returned to earth and examined.

International Space Station Commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore holds up the first object made in space with additive manufacturing

"We will use them to characterise the effects of long-term microgravity on our 3D-printing process, so that we can model and predict the performance of objects that we manufacture in space in the future,” Mr Chen told Wired.